Tasker's Gods-CHAPTER XXX : A GIRL’S DESPAIR CHAPTER XXX A GIRL’S DESPAIR MRS. ALLEN, the mother of Alice, lived three miles from Maidenbridge in one of a block of three cottages, near the high road that breaks the heath in two. Before Alice, much to her mother’s dismay, was conceived, another girl belonging to Mrs. Allen was already in the world. This other girl, whose name was Hester, was married very young, and none too soon, to a sailor. This sister was not best pleased that Alice had come home, and therefore spent the time teasing her about her holiday at Portstown. This teasing made Alice pay a visit to her friend Annie. It was when out walking with Annie on the day of the Visitation that the two girls had met the Rev. Edward Lester. He had asked Annie to meet him, if possible with a girl friend—a new member for the Church Girls’ Club. Alice, who always called a man in black garments ‘sir,’ fell into this second trap because of the gentleman, as easily as she had fallen into the first because of the man.
